Improvement in breech-load ing fire-arms



GgFoBHL. Breach-Loading Fire-Arm.

No. 222,991. H d Dec. 30,187.9.

ATTORNEY.

N,FEEH8. PHDTDJLITNOGRPMER. WASHINGTON, Dv C.

UNITED STATES 'CHARLES 'FOE'HL OF PHILADELPHIA,

PATENT OFFICE..

PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNon ONE- HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO ISAAC J. CLARK, OF SAMEPLACE.

IMPROVEMENT-IN IB'REEGH-"LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

'Specification forming part'of Letters Patent No. 222,991, datedDecember 30,1879; applicationilcd May 14, 2187.).

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FoEnL, of the cityand county ofPhiladelphia, and State `of Fennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful' 'Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms, which improvement isfully `set forth in the following specification and accompanying idrawings, in whichi Figure l is a longitudinal section of thepor-l tionof a fire-arm embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation yofsaid portion, cer-i tain parts being sectional. Fig. 3-is atop view?thereof'. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is aview of a detached portion. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the axialpin of lthe breech-block. Fig. 7 is an end view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

claimed.

It also consists of the breech-block having a tang formed with a lug orprojection, for preventing discharge of the weapon when partly cocked.

It also consists of the breech-block having an extended tang, and thelocking-lever, connected by a detachable link, whereby stripping of theweapon may be readily accomplished.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the barrel, 'and B adownwardly-swinging breechblock, to which is connected, or with which isformed, a tang, C, extending rearward from the-axis ofthe block andmoving in the tangplece.

D represents alink, one end of which is pivoted to the rear end of thetang C, and the other to the front end or upper limb of a lever, E,which is pivoted to the tri gger-plate a, behind the guard, anddenominated the locking-lever. To the trigger-plate a, adjacent to theaxis of the lever E, is secured a rack or toothed piece, F, with whichis `adapted to engage a pawl, G, jointed to the upper portion of thelever E, and operated by a thumb-lever, H, which is pivoted to saidlever E.

Projecting from the under side of the tang C is a lug, J, which is sodisposed in relation to the vdetent J of the tiring-pin K that when :theweapon is half-cocked the rear end of said deten't is `brought in linewith the lug J, and the detent is thereby controlled, (see Fig. 4,)whereby the trigger is rendered incapable of releasing the firing-pin,and accidentaldischarge of the weapon at half-cock is prevented, saidlug J, however, in no wise preventing the proper discharge ofthe weaponat full-cock, as

is evident on referring to Fig. l.

After the weapon has been discharged the thumb-lever H is operated inorder to withdraw the pawl G from the rack F, and thus release theguard-lever E, which'is next thrown forward. This raises the link D andtang C, and consequently lowers the breechblock B, as in Fig. 2. Theempty cartridge-shell is extracted, a fresh cartridge applied, and thelever E again swung rearward to either half or fully cock the weapon. Inthese motions the link D and tang C are lowered, and the breechblock israised. For half-cock the pawl G is caused to drop into-and engage withthe first or upper tootli of the rack F. For full-cock the lever E ismoved back to full extent, so that the pawl G engages with the second orlowermost tooth of the rack F, the pawl remaining against the respectivetooth by the action of the spring of the thumblever.

It will he seen that when the weapon is fully l cocked the breech-blockis firmly and immovably held by means of the lockinglever -E andimmediate parts, whereby the weapon may be discharged with safety.

rlhe axial pin K is formed with a spring catch, b, which engages withthe wall of the opening, through which the pin is passed, thus holdingit in position. By pressing in the catch it enters a groove in the pinand perA mits the ready withdrawal of the pin. The link D has a pin, c,at each end, the pins proA jecting in opposite directions. The rear ofthe tang G and front end of the lever E have each an opening for theinsertion of the pin of the respective end of the link D, whereby thelatter may be readily displaced.

By removing the pin K and lifting` the breech-block the link D may bedisengaged from the tang and locking-lever, and thus the weapon orbreech-block may be readily stripped.

L represents a plate, which is connected to the tiring-pin K by a screw,d, and fitted in a way, c, on the upper face of the breechblock, so asto be exposed. The screw d passes th rough a slot in the breech-block,so that the plate is permitted to slide with or follow the motions ofthe firing-pin, wherefore, when the weapon is discharged, the plate isat the forward end of the way e. When it is fully cocked the plate is atthe rear end of the way, and when it is half-cocked the plate isintermediate of the ends of the way. By this indicator the condition ofthe lire-arm may be readily known simply by glancing at the plate L.

It will be noticed that the way extends longitudinally and is longerthan the plate, so that the ends ofthe plate point or indicate in theway the position ofthe firing-pin, the plate having no connectionwhatsoever with thelocking mechanism of the breech-block, and the wayalso serving to guide and inclose the indicating-plate and protect thehand from being struck by the plate in its movements.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The firing-pin, in combination with an indicator, consisting of aplate or piece which is connected and moves with said pin, and thebreech-block, having a way which is of greater length than the plate andreceives and incloses the same, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The locking-lever E, with the' thumb-lever H and pawl Gr, the rack F,and link D, in combination with the breech-block, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. The tang C, formed with the lug or projection J, in combination withthe detent J and the-tiring-pin, substantially as and forthe purpose setforth.

4. The swinging breech-block, with a rear extension or tang, C, thedetachable axial pin K', detachable link D, and lever E, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES FOEHL.

Witnesses JOHN A. WLEDERSHEIM, W. F. KIRCHER.

